Nigeria’s Flamingos triumphed over South Africa’s Bantwana with a 5-1 aggregate victory in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. Exhibiting strong teamwork and defense, Nigeria won 2-0 in the second leg, following a 3-1 first-leg win. They will face Botswana or Algeria in the final round, seeking to secure their place in the upcoming World Cup in Morocco.
Nigeria’s Under-17 women’s team, known as the Flamingos, achieved a commanding 5-1 aggregate victory against South Africa’s Bantwana in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. They secured a definitive 2-0 win in the second leg held in Ikenne-Remo, ensuring their advancement to the final qualifying round after winning the first leg 3-1 in Pretoria.
In the Ikenne match, forward Harmony Chidi opened the scoring in the 37th minute, taking advantage of a free-kick by Shakirat Moshood to score with a well-placed header. Moshood, who contributed to the first-leg victory with a goal, assisted Aishat Animashaun for the second goal in the 56th minute, who skillfully finished over the South African goalkeeper, Samekelise Mthembu.
Despite South Africa’s efforts through players like Zoe October and captain Katleho Malebana, they were unable to penetrate Nigeria’s strong defensive unit, which included Hannah Ibrahim and Jumai Adebayo. The disciplined performance from Nigeria’s backline thwarted the visitors’ attempts to score throughout the match.
Head coach Bankole Olowookere stressed the need for focus and warned against complacency prior to the match, stating, “It is never over until it is over.” His strategy paid off as Nigeria maintained a professional demeanor against South Africa, effectively managing the game and converting chances into goals.
Having secured their place in the final round of qualifiers, Nigeria will next face either Botswana or Algeria, with Botswana currently leading their tie 2-1. A victory in this round would grant Nigeria entry to the Morocco 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, aiming to build upon their third-place finish in the previous edition.
Nigeria’s Flamingos demonstrated strong discipline and tactical execution in their recent qualifiers, confirming their advancement to the final round with a 5-1 aggregate victory over South Africa. With their robust defense and disciplined attack, they are poised to contend for a spot in the Morocco 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The upcoming match against either Botswana or Algeria will be critical for shaping Nigeria’s pursuit of global recognition.
Original Source: www.brila.net
